Since I was a little girl, I dreamed about using writing, photography and story-telling to raise awareness and raise funds for charity organizations. No other area of injustice upsets me as much as the debilitating effects of poverty.
But as I gained some valuable experience, there was one thing that kept bugging me. It seemed like the only way I could get involved in “fundraising reporting” was if I could paint them as the helpless ones. There could be no reflection of the bold, richly colorful and powerful people that they so clearly were, because that doesn’t persuade the average Westerner to donate.
We need a Celine Dion song over a slideshow of disfigured puppies in order to pull out our wallets.
The Sad Box
This makes me wonder… Why are we giving in the first place?
If it’s truly to empower people that deserve a chance to express their potential, shouldn’t we be celebrating their dreams instead of try to squish them in the Sad Box?
Do we really care enough to understand their struggles, or has charity become another item to check-off our self-actualization list?
Guilt pay-off?
I love charity when it’s done well, but it’s so easy to fall into the “king and beggar” narrative.
We look at pictures of hungry African babies, feel guilty and quickly throw $50 at the organization with the best marketing strategy. God forbid we get too disturbed. Our busy lives may actually get interrupted. Who knows where that money ends up, we’ve already moved on. After all, we feel better about ourselves now.
Charity has become a PR-boost for businesses and a guilt pay-off for individuals.
Disengaged money-giving
Charity isn’t evil. It’s better to mindlessly write checks than to do nothing at all. My concern is how little is required of us when we limit charity to donating money. There’s a minimal amount of engagement, let alone a willingness to change our lifestyle.
Our well-meant dollars are not enough to cross the line between “us” and “them”. More often than not, our charity actually keeps us in the place of superiority and them in the place of dependency.
We give money without actually understanding the issue at hand, the impact it has on real people, the root causes or the long-term effects of the proposed solutions we’re funding.
We have distanced ourselves from the very people we are trying to help. There’s a lack of accountability, simply because we don’t seem to care enough to gain a thorough understanding of the why and how.
The Charity Revolution
This world is filled with hearts that genuinely care. Every donation is ultimately a quiet cry of “I want to make a difference.” The more you come alive, the more this desire grows. This genuine care now simply needs to take the next step by going beyond merely money-giving. Charity is being redefined – and you are invited to this revolution.
The world doesn’t need more mindless charity, it needs people who take ownership.
It needs a Charity Revolution that is focused on empowering local communities and long-term solutions.
This Revolution is carried by anyone who is willing to put in time and energy instead of just autofill Visa-card numbers.
It needs a global reformation of customers who are ready to change their shopping habits.
It needs people who are willing to take the time to listen, ask questions and walk in someone else’s shoes for a while.
It needs people who are willing to make this the topic of conversation at the next birthday party, instead of complaints about the weather or a certain politician whose name rhymes with hump.
Part of the problem, part of the solution
We caused the problem, so we need to be part of the solution. In many ways, we created the cycle of poverty many are stuck in now. It’s our responsibility to come alongside our teammates to overcome the disadvantages that were put on them.
They’ve been bogged down by centuries of colonialism, corruption and oppression, and are still continuing to run through the mud of a debilitating global economic system. They posses an equal strength, but carry a load significantly heavier than what’s resting on our privileged shoulders.
How dare we ever paint them as the weak ones?
What’s next?
Are you willing to engage with people’s stories to the point that you can no longer ignore them? Do you want to invest time and energy into building a bridge of understanding instead of merely donating money? Will you take a seat at the table of our shared humanity and kiss the face of a stranger?
Let’s go on a journey of research and discovery together. Let’s start the conversation.
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#takeaseatatthetable
I’m on a journey of rediscovering charity. The biggest focus of this journey is learning how my lifestyle has a global impact and how I can invest in a local-empowered form of charity.
I’ll be sharing the findings of my own research here on the blog, hoping to inspire you to make a difference as well.
In the next post, I’ll be sharing about sustainable fashion (it’s easier than you think!).
Let’s take a seat at the table and start a conversation.
What does charity look like for you? How do you stay involved beyond donating money?
I want to get inspired by your ideas and learn from you.
Comment below or email me through the contact form.
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